Not Always as They Appear, Chapter 2
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters.
Recap:
Seeing the bewildered look on Eliot Spencer's face, Katia rolled her eyes. "It's your son, Spencer." Looking at the baby she added, "Samuel, meet your father. I know you probably won't understand this when you're older, but I trust he'll take better care of you than I ever could." She gave a bemused smile before turning back toward Eliot. "His birth certificate and a list of do's and don'ts are in the diaper bag. I've got to go. I've got a job waiting." And with that, she turned and walked toward the door.
Eliot looked from Katia to the baby and back before following after the woman, "Wait…wait! Kat, you can't just walk in, hand me a baby, and then leave….Katia, wait!"
Chapter 2
Nate stifled a laugh at the look on Sophie's face. Whatever the grifter thought she knew, Nate knew she hadn't expected that revelation.
"You…were Sam's….and Nate….how?"
Eliot did laugh at Sophie's uncharacteristic sputtering.
"It's a long story," Nate commented, looking at Eliot as if he should continue.
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The last three and a half months had been the longest and the shortest months of Eliot Spencer's life. Everything had changed when Katia almost literally dropped Sammy into Eliot's life, yet in other ways nothing had changed. Eliot had been at the top of his game as a hitter and a retrieval specialist when Sammy arrived, forcing Eliot off the grid. Unfortunately, a specialist of Eliot's caliber disappearing in an effort to avoid unwanted attention did attract attention from potential clients and mortal enemies alike. Rumors abounded and more than once Eliot and baby Sammy had to slip of into the night to avoid detection by one of Eliot's not so pleasant acquaintances.
Despite all this, Sammy was a delightful baby, sleeping through the night, gurgling and cooing after a feeding, squealing gleefully as Eliot entertained him and without a doubt his Papa adored him. He was a smart kid and strong, having sat up on his own for the first time just a couple of weeks ago before falling over with a giggle. Eliot had giggled right along with him, hoisting him up into the air with a, "that's Papa's big boy!"
Now Eliot sat on the edge of the bed, rocking Sammy back and forth, trying to get him down for the night. He heaved a sigh that suggested the weight of the world sat on his shoulders and stroked Sammy's soft cheek with a calloused finger. "I don't know what to do, Kiddo."
Huge brown eyes stared at Eliot intently as Sammy caught Eliot's finger in a slobbery fist.
"You know I'd do anything in the world to keep you safe, Sammy. You're the best thing that every happened to me…and the scariest," Eliot added with a watery smile. "But you deserve better than to be dragged from one run down motel to another." When Sammy cooed contentedly, Eliot acknowledged, "Oh, I know you don't mind it now. But when you get a little older, you won't care for it. And if anything every happened to you because of me…because of who I am…I'd never forgive myself."
Eliot looked at the phone that sat on the nightstand. He had worked up the courage to call his sister earlier in the day, planning to tell her about Sammy and ask if she and her husband would be willing to take him in. The minute Mary-Beth heard his voice she lit into him, scolding her brother for not contacting her in over a year, for not even letting her know he was alive. He had to apologized several times before she calmed down enough for him to ask her how she was. He was startled by the sob that escaped her. Apparently a lot could and had happened in the last year, including Mary-Beth's husband, and why Eliot had ever thought that scumbag was good enough to raise his son he couldn't remember, had left her for another woman. His three year old nephew, Martin, had been hospitalized twice for asthma attacks. And Mary-Beth was working two jobs to try to make ends meet. Eliot hadn't had the heart to tell her about Sammy at that point, knowing she would want to help, even though she sounded like she would fall apart at any minute from her own stresses. Instead, he spent the next half hour trying to console her and promised he'd send her some money to help out with her bills, despite her protests.
The next time Eliot looked at the clock, it was 3:00 in the morning and Sammy was snoozing contentedly in his arms. He kissed the baby's forehead and snuggled him closer. He knew he couldn't keep Sammy with him much longer for his own safety, and with his sister out of the picture, he didn't know where to turn. Adoption had crossed his mind briefly, but he didn't know how he could bear to part with Sammy permanently or who he would ever be able to trust to take care of him. Sure there was a chance that Sammy would get a good family. There was also the chance that he'd be adopted by some nutcase or child abuser. At the mere thought of that his hold on Sammy tightened and Eliot had to force himself to relax for fear of accidentally hurting him.
Eliot tried to think if he knew anyone who was adopted or had adopted a child. He couldn't think of anyone off hand, although there was rumor going around that Nate Ford, after his shootout a couple of month's ago with Annie Croix, had reevaluated his life and was taking some time off from the chase while he and his wife tried to adopt a child. Eliot had always respected Ford. He was a good guy and would make a decent dad. But how could Eliot be sure that someone like Ford would get Sammy. He sighed again, shaking his head, then suddenly froze as a light bulb went off in his exhausted brain. Nate Ford would make a good dad….Eliot could trust Nate with Sammy….of course he'd have to scope out Nate's wife…make sure she was a decent woman and would be a good mom….
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Disclaimer – I have nothing against adoptive parents, I just imagine that Eliot would be fearful that Sammy might not end up in a good home.